Half of UAE's Mars Mission Leaders Are Women: Sarah bint Yousif Al Amiri
New Age Islam News Bureau
01
September 2020
• Loujain al-Hathloul, Saudi Female Activist Goes on Hunger Strike, In One of The Kingdom’s Prisons
• Saudi Labour
Law Articles on Hazardous Jobs For Women Revoked
• Tommy Hilfiger
Embraces Modest Fashion with Launch of First Hijab
• Saudi Painter
Calls for Women’s Art Museum in The Kingdom
• Start-Up of
The Week: Saudi Fashion Designer Combines Beauty and Comfort
Compiled by New
Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/half-uae-mars-mission-leaders/d/122769
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Half of UAE's Mars Mission Leaders Are Women: Sarah bint Yousif Al Amiri
Saman Haziq
August 26, 2020
Half of the leadership
positions of the UAE's historic Hope probe mission to Mars are held by women
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The probe has
covered 20 per cent of its 493-million-km journey within a month after it was
launched.
Half of the
leadership positions of the UAE's historic Hope probe mission to Mars are held
by women, a minister and science lead of the mission has revealed. The probe
has covered 20 per cent of its 493-million-km journey within a month after it
was launched.
Sarah bint
Yousif Al Amiri, Minister of State for Advanced Technology and President of the
UAE Space Agency, said: "The team behind the UAE's historic Hope probe
comprised 34 per cent women, who served in various roles such as engineers, scientists,
and academic researchers, and were involved in all stages of manufacturing and
design.
"In fact,
the only engineer skilled and best equipped to develop the probe's power/force
system was an Emirati female engineer - she was the only one across the entire
space sector in the UAE who had the skillsets and level of expertise we
needed."
She was
addressing a webinar conducted by the Dubai Women Establishment (DWE) to
highlight women's achievements in various sectors ahead of the Emirati Women's
Day.
"Internationally,
people often ask me how we were able to have women comprise 34 per cent of the
Hope probe's team. In comparison to international teams working in the same
field, this percentage is among the highest. I'm proud to say that in the UAE,
capacities, capabilities, expertise, and excellence are the main factors and
criteria that are taken into consideration when allocating human resources to
certain tasks, regardless of gender.
"Half of
the leadership positions of the Hope probe were women, which shows the crucial
role women in STEM-focused positions play today."
Referring to
government support for women in the field, she said: "Today, more than 56
per cent of STEM graduates in the UAE are women, which highlights how our
country is committed to encouraging women's active contribution and interest in
this field from the very beginning."
Covid impact on
mission
Al Ameri said
that the pandemic struck at a critical time "in terms of the timeline that
was set for the launch of the probe".
Stressing on the
importance of flexibility in the time of crisis, Al Ameri said: "We had to
transport the probe, as well as the team members themselves, from the UAE to
Japan. We realised during this process that we had great capacities for risk
management. There was flexibility in the way we worked, and made the necessary
amendments to our approaches to ensure a successful and timely launch.
"Flexibility
is important when it comes to approaches taken to reach a certain objective.
Change is good - change means that we are adapting with the world around us,
which is necessary for progress. Ensuring that there is efficient risk
management before the launch of any project is crucial."
Thanking the UAE
community for working together to fight the pandemic, she said: "It was a
difficult couple of months. However, with the cohesive efforts of all relevant
local and federal entities in the UAE, all of which worked together as one team
to ensure the fruition of this project, it was made easier. I would like to
thank the team members of the 'Hope' probe - our team members left their
country and their families at a very critical time during the pandemic to
ensure the success of this pioneering project. They are a role model in work
ethic, professionalism, and excellence."
https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/dubai/half-of-uaes-mars-mission-leaders-are-women-minister
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Loujain
al-Hathloul, Saudi Female Activist Goes on Hunger Strike, In One of The
Kingdom’s Prisons
September 01,
2020
Saudi women's rights
activist Loujain al-Hathloul/ Photograph: HANDOUT
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Saudi women’s
rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul has embarked on a hunger strike in one of
the kingdom’s prisons, according to a statement Monday by her family.
Loujain's sister
Lina said on her Twitter account that her parents visited Loujain recently in
her prison cell.
"My parents
visited Loujain today. She was on the sixth day of a hunger strike to protest
against her being prevented from calling her family," Lina said.
She added that
her sister's health is "deteriorating," without providing further
details.
In a Twitter
post in June, Prisoners of Conscience, a Saudi human rights group, demanded
that Saudi authorities reveal the health status of Loujain, who has been
detained for more than two years in Saudi prisons.
Saudi
authorities have yet to comment on the claims of Loujain's family. However,
they deny depriving prisoners of any of their rights.
On May 15, 2018,
the authorities arrested a number of female human rights activists including
Loujain, Samar Badawi, Nassima al-Sadah, Nouf Abdelaziz al Jerawi and Mayaa
al-Zahrani.
Several
international rights watchdogs have accused Saudi authorities of jailing the
female activists for their activism in defending women's rights.
https://www.yenisafak.com/en/news/saudi-female-activist-goes-on-hunger-strike-3538101
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Saudi Labour Law
Articles On Hazardous Jobs For Women Revoked
August 31, 2020
Saudi Arabia's Cabinet last
week approved two amendments in the Labor Law related to women’s work in
hazardous jobs and at night.
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RIYADH — Saudi
Arabia's Cabinet last week approved two amendments in the Labour Law related to
women’s work in hazardous jobs and at night.
Sources told
Okaz/Saudi Gazette that the amendments pertained to abrogation of Articles 149
and 150 of the Labor Law related to the prohibition of employment of women in
some dangerous occupations and some period of time during night.
Article 149
states that it is forbidden to employ women in dangerous and harmful
occupations and jobs, and the minister would specify the occupations and jobs
considered dangerous or harmful and would expose women to specific dangers or
harms so as to prohibit their work in such jobs or restrict them under special conditions.”
Article 150
states that women shall not be employed in a period of time during night that
is not less than 11 consecutive hours, except in cases in which a decision is
issued by the minister.
Sources
clarified that the new amendments included the addition of an article, of which
the order is 131, which stipulates that the minister determines — by his
decision — the professions that are considered dangerous or harmful or that
would expose the worker to extraordinary dangers or damages.
The minister
determines the categories, which are prohibited permanently or temporarily from
employing in them or allow to employ therein, under special conditions.
These conditions
include the extent of the need to specify working periods for any of these
groups, in accordance with the Kingdom’s relevant commitments as per the
international agreements.
https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/597325
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Tommy Hilfiger
Embraces Modest Fashion with Launch of First Hijab
Priya Elan
1 Sep 2020
Top American
fashion label Tommy Hilfiger has launched its first hijab, in a move that some
see as a welcome shift towards embracing more diversity but others see as a
canny decision to tap into a growing segment of the fashion market.
The Hilfiger
hijab has the letters “TH” initialed throughout the garment, and has been
crafted from fine jacquard fabric. It comes in ivory and “sky captain” grey.
Last month the label dressed model Halima Aden in a custom-made burkini for
Sports Illustrated.
It’s not the
first time the fashion industry has recognized the significance of so-called
modest fashion. In 2016 at New York fashion week Anniesa Hasibuan was the first
designer to show a collection where all models wore the hijab. Dolce &
Gabbana, DKNY and Mango have done “Ramadan collections”, while worldwide Modest
Fashion Weeks are happening from Miami to Amsterdam.
After the
fashion industry has been criticized for its lack of diversity and racism,
following the Black Lives Matter protests, the Hilfiger hijab could suggest
major fashion brands are stepping forward with inclusive practices. But
Hassanah El-Yacoubi, founder of modest fashion brand PFH, says that it also
shows market changes rather than cultural ones.
“It’s more
indicative of an ever growing Muslim consumer culture that is lucrative and
thriving more than ever now,” El-Yacoubi said.
The Islamic
fashion industry is estimated to be worth $88bn by 2025, according to Grand
View Research. “I think the timing reflects the need to address a growing
desire in the market by consumers – especially millennials and Generation Z –
for greater inclusivity from the brands they support,” said Arthur Zaczkiewicz,
the executive editor of fashion industry publication Women’s Wear Daily.
Research has
shown that a younger tranche of consumers are less concerned with “fitting in”
and more with making choices that reflect their own values.
After years of
being “othered” by mainstream fashion, the perception of modest fashion is
altering. “I believe we are experiencing a permanent cultural shift instead of
a fleeting style that’s in vogue temporarily,” said El-Yacoubi.
“More and more
retailers are focusing on inclusivity and adding products to their assortment
that support modest dressing,” said Krista Corrigan from retail market
intelligence company Edited. She said that 10% of shops tracked by the company
stock such garments compared to just 2% in 2019.
Zaczkiewicz
said: “It’s important to understand that modest fashion is not a trend. It’s
how people live.”
Yet most
observers believe the Hilfiger hijab is only a small step towards a wider
acceptance of Muslim dressing.
“No matter how
mainstream or celebrated modest fashion has become, the reality remains that
Islamophobia and anti-Muslim sentiments have been at an all-time high in the
US,” said El-Yacoubi.
Hate-crime
violence hit a 16-year high last year in the US, while in 2019 52% of UK hate
crimes were committed against Muslims.
“Since modest
fashion is generally perceived to be a phenomenon spearheaded by hijab-donning
women, they usually bear the brunt of such beliefs,” said El-Yacoubi.
Muslim clothing
continues to be a political lightning rod and a sartorial subtext for
Islamophobic rhetoric.
In July, the
German state of Baden-Württemberg banned burqas and niqabs in schools. It
followed similar bans in Sri Lanka and Denmark. Other countries that have
banned Muslim dress include Latvia, Austria, Bulgaria and Belgium.
Last year the
French sporting goods label Decathlon dropped plans to sell a sports hijab
after politicians’ reaction exposed religious tensions there, again focused on
Muslim women’s attire.
Still, the
launch of the hijab follows on from Hilfiger’s promises to be more inclusive.
Last month its parent company PVH announced a program to increase opportunities
for people of color people at the company.
https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2020/sep/01/tommy-hilfiger-first-hijab-launch-modest-fashion
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Saudi Painter
Calls for Women’s Art Museum in The Kingdom
September 01,
2020
We show you our
most important and recent visitors news details Saudi painter calls for women’s
art museum in the kingdom in the following article
Hind Al Soulia -
Riyadh - Sameera Ismail, who is also an entrepreneur, has invited prominent
business figures and national banks in Saudi Arabia to contribute to the
establishment of the museum.
Saudi artist
Safeya Binzagr, Shaving Ceremony, 1975. (Darat Safeya Binzagr Gallery)
RIYADH – Saudi
painter Sameera Ismail is pushing for the creation of a museum dedicated to
Saudi women in the arts as a means to “preserve the achievements of Saudi women
artists in all branches of painting and fine art.”
Ismail
emphasised the importance of supporting and empowering women in the kingdom by
proposing initiatives that can help serve and promote their artistic creation.
“We need
realistic ideas that serve art and its artistic culture, by setting up a museum
dedicated to women and the achievements of Saudi female artists from all
branches and sectors — a celebration of creative and innovative Saudi women —
by establishing the first museum for women artists in the region,” Ismail wrote
on Twitter.
Ismail, who is
also an entrepreneur, has invited prominent business figures and national banks
in Saudi Arabia to contribute to the establishment of the museum, which she
hopes will encourage more Saudi women to innovate and boost art renaissance in
the kingdom.
Saudi artist
Sameera Ismail (Twitter)
Many Saudi women
painters are well established in the international art scene, with their works
sold all around the region and the world.
Among them are
Bdoor bint Abdullah Al-Sudairy, who has won international awards such as the
Excellence Award at the London Biennial Exhibition in 2013 for her painting
“Ghat Dates: the Desserts of the Rich and the Food of the Poor,” which, like
many of her works, is inspired by her Saudi heritage.
Safeya Binzagr
is also a pioneer of Saudi painting. In 1970, she became the first woman to
organise a solo exhibition of her work in the kingdom, which she was not able
to attend because of the restrictions of the time. It was not until Aramco held
a private exhibition of her work in 1976 that she was able to take part.
Binzagr owns the
“Darat Safeya Binzagr” in Jeddah, an institution that aims to preserve social
heritage and folklore, which are often depicted in her paintings. The institute
includes workshops for children and adults, training courses and lectures on
painting and modern art.
Over the years,
Binzagr, who wrote a book about Saudi art titled “Saudi Arabia, An Artist’s
View of the Past,” has also participated in many local and international
exhibitions. Her works are displayed in countries such as Japan, Sweden, Spain,
Lebanon, England and the United States.
Ibtisam Abdullah
Bajabeer is a famous plastic artist from Saudi Arabia whose works are distinguished
by their Islamic characters. She left a clear imprint on the development of
silk drawings, in which she uses burning wood to draw Islamic lines.
She has
participated in many cultural and artistic events throughout the world, such as
an exhibition of Saudi women painters in Washington, and Saudi exhibitions in
Spain, France and Egypt.
Pioneers of
Saudi plastic art also include Hamida Al-Senan, Ahoud Al-Jarid, Fatima Abu
Qahhas, Hend Al-Mansour and Ghadeer Hafez. Younger artists include Shatha
Al-Omar, Hiba Reda Mari and others who continue to enrich the country’s art
scene with their creative contributions.
These were the
details of the news Saudi painter calls for women’s art museum in the kingdom
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https://www.alkhaleejtoday.co/saudi-arabia/5037402/Saudi-painter-calls-for-women%E2%80%99s-art-museum-in-the-kingdom.html
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Start-Up of The
Week: Saudi Fashion Designer Combines Beauty and Comfort
LOJIEN BEN
GASSEM
August 31, 2020
RIYADH: Bearing
a lotus logo, Saudi designer and stylist Saja Al-Yousef’s creations are
inspired by the qualities of the flower, which symbolizes beauty, health,
comfort, love, and optimism
SAJAS Boutique
specializes in luxury jewelry, fashion, and bag collections designed as per
international standards. Al-Yousef’s designs are a fusion of classical and
modern styles.
She opened her
main outlet in Al-Ahsa in Saudi Arabia and soon became an icon in the Saudi
fashion world.
Al-Yousef said
she was not satisfied with the products available around her. This
dissatisfaction motivated her to launch her line of products to cater to the
needs of the people who thought like her.
“I started to
invent my style and challenged myself until I reached where I am now,” she told
Arab News.
In 2004, SAJAS
Boutique entered the fashion world with its first collection. In 2009,
Al-Yousef went to Australia to pursue her master’s degree. During her 4-year
stay in Australia, she attended several fashion courses, and met several
fashion designers and icons, which enlightened her and shaped her thoughts and
ideas about fashion.
In 2013,
Al-Yousef worked as a stylist backstage during Riyadh Fashion Days. She then
attended many courses in fashion, jewelry and bag design in the UK, Qatar,
France, and Australia.
She started
working on her first line of jewelry in 2014. In 2017, she researched leather
products and visited several countries to study the feasibility of entering
into the industry. In February 2019, she started her leather bags industry in
Italy.
Al-Yousef mentioned
that she had participated in many international jewelry events in the Gulf
countries such as Bahrain’s Jewelry Arabia and Qatar’s Jewelry International
Exhibition.
In 2017,
Al-Yousef participated in the Jewelry Salon held in Riyadh and another event in
Dubai.
In August 2018,
Al-Yousef presented her bags collection at Harvey Nichols, London, during
London Fashion Week.
“I participated
in several fashion shows in Bahrain and Riyadh. In February 2019, I exhibited
my designs in a showroom in Italy. In December 2019, I was selected by the
Diriyah Gate Development Authority (DGDA) to represent my brand in a showroom
at Ritz-Carlton Riyadh,” said Al-Yousef.
Al-Yousef
mentioned that her ambitions were boundless. “The sky is the limit,” she said.
She added that she
hoped to share her vision and imagination with top brands and not confine
herself to the local market.
“I think SAJAS
products have gone through a lot of phases. Each product has a story and buyers
are listeners who can understand the hard work that goes into each product,”
she said.
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1727551/fashion
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